Southampton look set to downgrade the status of their girls’ academy in a move which could impact as many as 40 young female footballers on the south coast.
Parents were informed of the decision earlier this month and the move comes just weeks after Saints missed out on promotion to the Premier League – and a potential pay day of £200m – as a result of the Spygate scandal back in May.
The i Paper understands the move follows a review of the club’s women’s and girls’ programme.
It is likely to result in a reduction of the number of full-time staff and players involved in an academy which has already produced stars such as England’s Lucia Kendall, who left Saints to join Aston Villa last summer.
“Category One status means you have to have full pathway from under-16s to up under-21s,” says a figure familiar with the decision made by the Southampton hierarchy.
“Dropping down to Category Two means the club doesn’t have to provide for anything except for under-21s. Instead of having a fully-funded academy programme with a full fixture list, they can move to an ETC [Emerging Talent Centre] programme.
“As I understand it, the restructure will result in Southampton’s under-16s, under-15s and under-14s into that ETC set-up. That will result in a potential drop in the provision of football from 8-12 hours to something like one and a half hours a week.
“In effect, the club are slashing their academy provision. Players won’t get the gym sessions, the sports science provision.
“I can understand it from an economic perspective. In the boys’ academy they can produce players that they can sell for a profit. Then you see someone like Lucia, who came through the club‘s ranks but then leaves for nothing.
“So, it’s an understandable business decision – but it’s certainly not great for those young players who will be impacted.
“Those players will be looking elsewhere right now, but the nearest equivalent provision is probably Brighton. That’s clearly some distance away.”
The club themselves have insisted that the decision isn’t being driven by financial concerns.
“The club remains committed to women’s football and to providing opportunities for female players to develop and progress,” the email reads.
“These changes should not be seen as a step away from the women’s game, but rather an attempt to create a structure that can be supported responsibly and sustainably in the years ahead.
“We recognise this uncertainty may be difficult for players and families, and we are committed to communicating openly and directly with those affected as plans develop further.”
Parents of the players involved have told The i Paper that the timing of the decision has already hindered their daughters’ chances of being able to find an academy place elsewhere.
“On the ground, my daughter couldn’t have had better coaching, my issue is with the club,” one parent says.
“For the girls that this is impacting, the timing couldn’t have been worse. She was a week away from signing a two year contract. The trials for any other clubs had already happened.
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“There was no opportunity to do anything else. Some other clubs have stepped in and offered a trial but the amount of players they’ve taken from those trials have understandably been minimal. Most of the girls who are now moving onto a PGA [Pro Game Academy] have had to travel a lot further.
“Others are dropping back to grassroots football, it may be a high level, but it’s certainly lower than the level they’re playing at now. The emotional impact on this cohort has been huge – and the impact it could have on the next generation of players in this area will be enormous too.”
The move follows a hugely successful season for the club’s academy, with the Under-14s winning the PGA Trophy for the first time, beating Villa in the final.
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